Climate Change Complexities Must be Everyone’s Business

Storytime! Very long ago, around 1708 Before Christ (BC) to 1701 BC, there was a seven-year period during which no grain grew in Egypt, or indeed anywhere in the ancient Near East.

The famine was so deadly that people had nothing to eat, not only in Egypt but in the surrounding lands as well. Climate change would at times impact the rise and fall of the Nile River resulting in either green or dry seasons.

Egypt, however, survived its most severe famine because it had stored so much grain from seven plentiful years prior to the starvation. Fast forward many years later, other African countries have faced famine though not to the same extent, but most of them lacked and still lack effective domestic mobilisation plans that would rescue people in times of dire need.

The difference between the situation in Egypt and famine in many African countries is that investment had been made prior in the former, while many countries continually get caught off guard by climate change effects because they don’t have what it takes to invest in and for the people.

If the person who was in charge of storing grain during plentiful years in Egypt was corrupt, there would have been food for only a few, while the majority of the people died of hunger. Unfortunately, looking within and transparently harnessing all available resources remains a challenge in most countries.

Ongoing Famine in Africa

Many countries stagger under the strong push of climate change without many reserves to hold onto. Topping the list is the horn of Africa (Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya), where more than 37 million people are facing acute hunger, with approximately seven million children under the age of five acutely malnourished. 

In South Sudan, there have been three years of consecutive flooding with almost 40 per cent of the country being flooded, leaving 8.3 million people or 75 percent of the population facing severe food insecurity. Moreover, half of all the children (approximately 3.6 million) in Somalia are malnourished while in Ethiopia 7.2 million people need food assistance and more than half of them also need access to drinking water.

In Kenya, nearly 2.1 million livestock have died, while at least 22 million livestock is at risk and are very weak and emaciated with no or little milk production, the main source of nutrition for children.

One cannot sufficiently emphasise how harshly the impact of climate change is hurting millions of people who ironically are paying a price for a crisis they did not cause. Mostly, climate change is caused by activities such as polluting energy, transport, carbon-heavy land use and agriculture, as well as industrial processes to name a few.

Africa accounts for the smallest share of global greenhouse gas emissions, just at 3.8%, in contrast to 23% in China, 19% in the US, and 13% in the European Union.

Unfortunately, Africa is hit by climate complexities, with women, people living with physical or mental challenges, the elderly and generally all vulnerable groups suffering the most.

Also just to briefly single out that extreme weather events due to climate change disproportionately affect women and girls and hinder their ability to perform their everyday tasks, which partly explains why some girls are forced to drop out of school.

Besides, there is evidence of how climate change is associated with an increase in asthma in adolescent girls, a higher risk of acquiring lung cancer and heart disease in mid-life, and heart attacks, strokes, and dementia in older women.

Cases of famine due to draughts, floods, mudslides, earthquakes, and loss of natural resources and livestock are becoming more frequent and costlier therefore increasingly devastating communities.  In fact, the frequency of extreme weather events has increased substantially in our continent over the past four decades, and it has increased at a faster pace than in the rest of the world.

With such a situation, it is not hard to understand that climate change is highly having a negative impact on economic activity across African countries and these adverse effects are increasingly and disproportionately affecting countries with low capacity, poor governance, weak natural resource management, and high reliance on climate-sensitive activities.

Indeed, rising temperatures and heat waves can harm growth in different sectors, leading to productivity losses, physical injuries, and degradation of land and water resources, among others. Resultantly, many countries at some point had to borrow their way out of climate-induced crises, thus increasing their public debt levels. Note that repayment will be done to those who caused damages.

Climate Change is Everyone’s Business

The international community, Governments, industries and individuals must work together to limit total global emissions so that temperatures do not rise more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

In 1997, The Kyoto Protocol called for industrialised nations to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but looking at how the global north has continued its polluting activities, it goes without saying that rich countries have cared less about the climate change business.

The International Community

The international community must deliver on its pledge to double adaptation finance and to scale adaptation action for Africa. Developing countries need additional resources if they are to have any chance of leaving fossil fuels alone. It is crucial to sufficiently invest in climate adaptation and creating opportunities for twenty-first-century jobs

Basically, those who emit the most carbon should be fair to the rest and contribute more to reducing carbon emissions. How many Conferences of the Parties (COPs) do we need before we start seeing tangible results? Unfortunately, in a world full of greed and egocentrism, only a few have the ability to care about others. So, a big and persistent push is required.

The world is getting very close to the point of no return and that’s why all G20 countries must accelerate their transition in this decade and embrace the Climate Solidarity Pact between developed and emerging economies as emphasised by António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General during the COP27 Leaders’ Summit.

In 1997, The Kyoto Protocol called for industrialised nations to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but looking at how the global north has continued its polluting activities, it goes without saying that rich countries have cared less about the climate change business.

Industries

Industries, whether in the global north or south, implement some or all of the following to conserve energy by turning off lights, computers, air conditioners and other appliances when not in use; encourage your employees to use public transport or you can arrange a bus from a common point for your employees; When purchasing a vehicle for your company consider buying most efficient, lowest polluting or if possible zero-emission electric vehicle; replace lights in your factory to energy efficient bulbs; GO green by limiting the use of paper as it may save some trees; choose materials which are made from recycled materials; Encourage activities like planting trees once a year among employees; Improve machinery or manufacturing processes to reduce emissions from factories; switch from coal, oil to natural gas reduced operating costs and extend plant’s life by eliminating corrosion from fuels and the full list is long but you get the point, right?

Governments

Governments must do more to create a policy environment that supports a green transition. They must hold polluters to account, legislating to compel corporates and investors to reduce carbon emissions, enforcing more stringent reporting requirements and imposing new taxation on wealth and investments in polluting industries.

Leaders must also encourage and support the move from coal and gas power stations and diesel generators to solar, wind and hydropower. Indeed, countries must prioritise strengthening their national reserves and reducing corruption and illicit financial flows, in order to stand strong in terms of investment for the present and the future.

This step can help raise sufficient funds to invest in environmental and climate adaptation. Remember Egypt’s story we began with?

Individuals

As individuals, you and I have a role in turning the tide of climate change. It may not amount to much from one individual, but we are many and we are the ones who make up our communities, the continent and the globe.

The people you and I care about, including ourselves, and generations to come need a habitable earth. Thus, we must be intentional in doing things like planting trees whenever possible, using water reasonably and reducing food waste, walking or cycling and using public transport instead of driving everywhere, turning off electronic appliances if not using them, being careful how we dispose of plastic so it doesn’t get to waterways, avoiding littering, opting for solar panels if possible.

The list is long but a bonus for you, start or continue taking nature walks whenever you can, for your own health and well-being.

The fight against climate change cannot be delegated, it must be everyone’s business!